Tongue-support



(No Model.) r T. T. CUNNINGHAM.

TONGUE v SUPPORT.

Patented June 7, 1887.

N. PETERS, PhMv-LKMQ P Wuhinglm 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS T. CUNNINGHAM, OF OSOEOLA, MISSOURI.

Toneu E-SUPP'O RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,337, dated June 7, 1887.

Application filed March 4, 188?.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS T. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Osceola, in the county of St. Clair and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vagon and Carriage Tongue Supporters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to supporters for the tongues of vehicles; audit consists in certain details of construction, to be hereinafter specifically described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my said invention is to provide a regulated support for vehicletongues, to elevate the same when the vehicle is not in use, and to take the strain oil the draft animals and support the tongue when in use.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure l is a plan View of my device as applied to a vehicle. Fig. 2 is asectional view, and Fig. 3 represents details of the same.

A is astrong spiral spring, and B a metallic. loop passing through said spring from front to rear, having its front ends terminating in hooks b, which abut against the first coil of the spring, and having at its looped or rear end a chain, O, which is usually permanently attached to the eye or .loop (I of a plate, D,

secured to the top of the forward bolster, E,

and through which plate the bolster-pin F passes.

13 is a metallic loop, similar to the loop B, above described, but passed through the spring A in the opposite direction, its hooks I) pressing or abutting against the rear or last coil of the spring, and having at its front or looped end a chain, G, provided with a hook, g, which is to connect with a metallic plate, H, on the evener, provided with an eye or loop, it, through which latter the end of the chain G is passed, and the tongue of the vehicle being elevated to the desired position the hook g is fastened in one of the links of the chain G. Thus as the loops B and B are drawn from opposite directions their hooks will compress the spring A, when the weight of the vehicle-tongue draws on the chains 0 and G, and the expansion of the spring will keep the tongue elevated and take the strain Serial No. 2:19.721. (No model.)

off the draft-animals and prevent or deaden shocks when obstacles are encountered by the wheels.

The-end ol' the chain 0 is usually permanently attached to the eye of the bolster-plate D, or it may be removably attached by a split ring or snap-hook, if desired, while the chain G is connected with the evener-plate by means of the snap g passing through the eye it at such length as will'properly elevate the tongue, so that the spring will equalize and deaden all shocks and jars.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A vehicle-tongue supporter consisting of a spiral spring inclosing two oppositely-extending metallic loops, having their free ends bent into hooks which retain the end coils of the spring, and their looped or linked ends attached to chains, one permanently connected with a plate on the top of the front bolster of the vehicle, the other adj ustably connected with a like plate 011 the evener, which evener is secured to the pole to elevate the tongue to any desired pitch, scribed.

2. In a vehicletongue supporter, the combination of the inclosing spiral spring'A, the loops B and B, passing through the spring and having the hooked ends I) and b, the chains 0 and G, the former connecting with the bolsterplate and the latter having the hook 9 arranged to pass through a loop or eye on the evenenplate and connect with one of the links of said chain, all substantially as described.

8. The encircling spring A, in combination with the loops B and B, passing through said spring and retaining it by their hooked ends abutting against the end coils of the spring, the chains 0 and G, the latter arranged to regulate the elevation of the tongue by the adjustment of the hook 9 through the loop on the evener-plate and one of the chain-links, the said evener-plate H, and the bolster-plate D, having the eye or loop (I, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS T. CUNNINGHAM.

\Vitnesses:

J OHN F. PUGH, A. G. CORNELIUS.

ICO 

